Open AccessHolocene aeolian dynamics in the E uropean sand‐belt as indicated by geochronological data
Author(s) -
Tolksdorf Johann Friedrich,
Kaiser Knut
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
boreas
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.95
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1502-3885
pISSN - 0300-9483
DOI - 10.1111/j.1502-3885.2012.00247.x
Subject(s) - aeolian processes , geology , holocene , aeolian sand , period (music) , thermoluminescence dating , physical geography , sedimentation , geomorphology , geochemistry , paleontology , sediment , geography , physics , acoustics
Aeolian sands are widespread in the E uropean sand‐belt. While there is a consensus about the timing of increased aeolian activity and, in contrast, of surface stabilization during the L ateglacial, knowledge about H olocene aeolian dynamics is still very sparse. It is generally assumed that aeolian processes have been closely connected to human activities since at least the N eolithic period. A compilation of 189 luminescence dates from aeolian sands of H olocene age and 301 14 C ‐dates from palaeo‐surfaces, comprising palaeosols, buried peats and archaeological features from the whole sand‐belt, is plotted as histograms and kernel density plots and divided into sub‐phases by cluster analysis. This is also done separately for the dates from the areas west and east of the river E lbe. Our results show that aeolian activity did not cease with the end of the Y ounger D ryas but continued in the whole E uropean sand‐belt until the M id‐ A tlantic ( c. 6500 a BP ), presenting evidence of vegetation‐free areas at least at the local scale. During the subsequent time period evidence of aeolian sedimentation is sparse, and surface stabilization is indicated by a cluster of palaeo‐surfaces ascribed to the early S ubboreal ( c. 5000 cal. a BP ). The agglomeration of luminescence ages around 4000 years is probably connected with intensified land use during the L ate N eolithic. Younger phases of aeolian sedimentation are indicated by clusters of luminescence ages around 1800 years, a group of luminescence ages from the N etherlands and NW G ermany around 900 years, and a group of ages around 680 years in G ermany. Among the dates from palaeo‐surfaces, clusters were identified around 2700, 1300 and 900 cal. a BP as well as around 690 cal. a BP in the western part and 610 cal. a BP in the eastern part of the sand‐belt. The clusters within the luminescence ages and the 14 C ‐dates coincide with phases where increased human impact can be deduced from archaeological and historical sources as well as from environmental history.